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Large Image
(acrylic on canvas 36"
x 36" embellished with crystals, miniature tiger-eye cabochons and gold leaf)
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One
of my more contemporary Tantric paintings, this
lighthearted and lovely mandala was over seven months in
the making. Each leaf and blossom was individually
painted. Tibetan spiritual art is customarily framed in
silk brocade, and I have included in the artwork an
intricate border richly embellished with gold leaf, crystals,
tiger-eye cabochons and dimensional paint.
More a
thangka than a geometric mandala, it is nonetheless
square with four protective stylized "gates"
around the inner temple where the deities reside. In
meditation, one can enter the world of Dombi and the
Dakini and partake of their bliss.
The
artistic inspiration for "Dombi and the
Dakini" comes from the renown jungle paintings of
Henri Rousseau as well as traditional Tibetan mystical
art. Dombi and his yogini partner were certainly
colorful subjects, often portrayed riding around naked
on a wild Bengal tigress as they went collecting alms.
In
this painting, he holds a poisonous snake in his right
hand to indicate his power over the natural world. She
holds up a skull cup filled with blissful nectars,
historically alcoholic in nature. Their eyes are locked
in an amorous glance as they ride without concern
through an idyllic forest setting of mating peacocks and
a monkey enjoying his repast of exotic fruit. The
"wall-eyed wisdom bird" observes the scene
from her perch high in a tree.
Sri
Dombi Heruka was a man, who from historical research, actually
lived in Kashmir and the Himalayan regions during the 10th
Century A.D. As Indian King Cakravarman, he came to power due to
the military support of a group of feudal barons, but was to
hold the throne no longer than a year. His royal downfall began
when an outcast Gypsy entertainer named Ranga and his two
beautiful dancing daughters, Hamsi and Nagalata, appeared in
court and began to win the kings favor. The eventual result was
a revolt by the king's earlier supporters and an attempt on his
life. The king fled into the forest with the two women (actually
yoginis), and then with time became a spiritual seeker achieving
enlightenment.
As
legend goes, the kingdom became misgoverned and fell into
anarchy. A council of Brahmins thus agreed to recall their
former king, and messengers were sent into the forest where
Dombi was living in solitude with his two wives. They found him
sitting under a tree with Hamsi while Nagalata walked across
delicate lotus leaves to the middle of the pond where she drew
cool water for the king. The messengers were amazed by this show
of yogic power and even more eager to have their king return. It
is said that when Dombi came out of the forest, he was seen
riding naked with Hamsi on the back of a ferocious pregnant
tiger (Nagalata magically transformed), his matted hair tied up
in a topknot like Shiva's, ornamented with deadly cobras and
brandishing one of the snakes as a whip. Overcome with fear and
awe, the ministers and people begged their exiled lord to take
up the reins of government again.
Dombi
refused and asked for public cremation which was the punishment
for consorting with an outcast woman. Consequently, a huge
sandalwood pyre was erected and mounted by both king and
consorts. When at last the flames died down and the great plume
of smoke dissipated enough to see, the people were astonished to
witness Dombi Heruka dancing in the heart of the fire in the
form of mighty Hevajra. Then water rose to extinguish the flames
and a lake formed where the cremation had taken place. The
legend concludes that through this miraculous display, the king
of yogis Dombi Heruka drew all his people to the spiritual path.
And, this is how the kingdom of Kashmir became a paradise on
earth.
Whatever,
the legend, the fact is that Sri Dombi Heruka was a very great
Tantric master and the author of several important treatises. In
Tibetan Buddhist literature he is listed as one of the two
principal disciples of Virupa. He was a noted exponent of the
Sri Hevajra Tantra, the root Tantra of the Vajrakapalika
spiritual tradition. He is venerated as a miracle working
Mahasiddha, a Great Adept who rode on the back of a wild Bengal
tigress with cobras wrapped around his body. Within the story of
Dombi Heruka several moral and spiritual messages are given, as
he explains:
"Political
power is of little benefit. Those who wield authority can
accomplish little good, and more often than not cause misery to
many. Social power and caste only result in oppression of the
less fortunate. You should understand that now my kingdom is no
longer of this world. It is the only kingdom worth ruling, for
my kingdom is now the kingdom of Dharma!"
